José Otero-García, USDA Rural Development State Director, and Tammy Treviño, USDA Rural Development Rural Housing Administrator sponsored a Self-Help Housing Forum at the Sacred Heart University in San Juan and was web connected with the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus and with the Catholic University, Ponce Campus on Friday March 5, 2010.
Over 151 persons joined the forum, one-hundred- seven at the University in San Juan and the rest through the web. The purpose of the forum was to create new ideas and promote the Self-Help Program in Puerto Rico. The activity was covered the Caribbean Business, Primera Hora and El Nuevo Dia Newspapers. The diversity of issues discussed was amazing and the group was composed of the best Professionals in their field, Faculty from the three Universities, Governors’ Aides, HUD’s Officials, Bank representatives, Mayors’ representatives and Communities leaders.
The information provided from the discussion will be sent to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and President Obama for consideration.
In attendance at the Puerto Rico Self-Help Housing Forum: Seated from left, Laura Cotte, Director of the Office of External Resources of the Sacred Heart University; Arlene Zambrana, Rural Housing Program Director (Puerto Rico); Tammye Treviño, Administrator for Housing & Community Facilities Programs, USDA RD; and José Otero, RD State Director for Puerto Rico.
Submitted by Miguel A. Ramírez, Rural Development Public Affairs Coordinator for Puerto Rico.